The ongoing special session of Parliament commemorates India’s parliamentary journey of 75 years. The last such special session was in August 1997, when India celebrated 50 years of Independence. I K Gujral was the Prime Minister then, leading a government of the 13-party United Front. On Independence eve that year, which fell during the Monsoon Session, a special sitting was organised at midnight. Programmes were conducted in the Central Hall of Parliament, with the late Lata Mangeshkar singing Sare Jahan Se Accha. A special guest for the programme was Betty Boothroyd, then the Speaker of House of Commons. Following this,...